Police

Caprice PPV's Future Uncertain After GM's Aussie Exit

General Motors hasn't made a decision about the future of its Chevrolet Caprice PPV, following the company's decision to discontinue vehicle production in Australia where the vehicle is made.

The Caprice PPV, a captive import of the Holden Caprice, is a law enforcement-only vehicle sold in the U.S. and Canada. GM has been building it since 2011 at a production location of Adelaide, Elizabeth, Australia.

"At this time, we have no information to share about future production of the Caprice PPV," said Dana Hammer, GM's manager of law enforcement vehicles. "Sale, service, warranty terms and parts availability will not be affected as a result of the recent news. We remain committed to the Chevrolet police lineup, and Chevrolet will continue to offer diverse police vehicles that provide the performance and efficiency expected by our law enforcement customers."

GM announced Thursday it will close all vehicle and engine manufacturing in Australia by the end of 2017. That would include the Adelaide plant and a Holden plant in Victoria. The automaker cited rising costs associated with the Australian dollar for its decision to exit the market.

"Since 2001, the Australian dollar has risen from US$0.50 to as high as US$1.10 and from as low as 47 to as high as 79 on the Trade Weighted Index," according to a statement. "The Australian automotive industry is heavily trade exposed. The appreciation of the currency alone means that at the Australian dollar’s peak, making things in Australia was 65% more expensive compared to just a decade earlier."

The Caprice PPV has been a strong performer in police vehicle testing since it was first introduced for the 2011 model year. The vehicle has also seen longer order-to-delivery times because it must be shipped from Australia. For the 2014 Caprice PPV, the automaker added a console shifter to the marked version and discontinued the unmarked detective (9C3) version.